Russ Feingold: “I come to the floor to briefly comment on a significant development in the fight for campaign finance reform. This…”

“I come to the floor to briefly comment on a significant development in the fight for campaign finance reform. This morning, a bipartisan group of Senators, led by the Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Hagel, announced a new campaign finance reform proposal. Let me say that I and the Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, warmly welcome the heightened participation of this new group of Senators, which includes the Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Landrieu, who has been, from the day she came to the Senate, a strong supporter of campaign finance reform. I also note that it includes five Republican Senators who have previously never voted for a campaign finance reform measure that includes limits on soft money. As I predicted last week on the floor, the wall of protection for the current system of unlimited soft money contributions to the political parties is rapidly crumbling. While I am pleased by this development, I am not surprised. The soft money system is indefensible. I think we saw that during our abbreviated debate last week. Opponents of reform didn't defend soft money; they tried to divert our attention from it.”